IDF officers arrested amid massive fraud investigation

12 suspects, including two IDF officers, arrested amid suspicions they defrauded army of millions of dollars.

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David Rosenberg, 16/10/17 11:27

Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit

Yossi Zeliger/Flash 90

Police arrested twelve suspects Monday, including two senior IDF officers, as part of an ongoing investigation into claims of corruption and fraud which may have cost the army millions of dollars.

A police spokesperson reported Monday that the 12 suspects had been taken into custody for questioning following a year-long investigation into a private company used to supply “infrastructure services” at a number of IDF bases. The suspects were taken into custody during searches of the company’s office. Police say documents tying the suspects to the alleged crimes were found during the searches.

Authorities suspect that the company received millions of dollars for services it never provided. Two senior IDF officials, it is believed, assisted 10 employees of the company to defraud the army, authorizing payments for fictitious services in exchange for a percentage of the funds paid out by the army.

According to police, the army officials include an IDF Lieutenant Colonel and Major. While the exact sum of the fraudulent payments received has not been disclosed, investigators say the payments were on the order of millions of shekels.